Roku’s new $3 ad-free streaming undercuts Netflix—with a catch

Need ad-free streaming with out paying by means of the nostril for Netflix or HBO Max? Roku’s new price range streamer serves up a tempting collection of films and TV exhibits for lots much less, supplied you may take care of some caveats. 

Slated to launch immediately, Howdy prices simply $3 a month for limitless ad-free streaming, a value that undercuts Netflix’s most cost-effective—and ad-supported—plan by $5 a month. 

That low value of admission will get you roughly 10,000 hours of streaming content material, in line with Roku, together with such highlights as Max Max: Fury Highway, Elvis, The Blind Aspect, Reservoir Canine, Weeds, Southland, and Children within the Corridor. Up to now, Howdy’s content material companions embody Lionsgate, Warner Bros. Discovery, and FilmRise, with “choose” Roku Authentic titles additionally within the combine. 

Roku is promising a “high-quality, ad-free expertise” from Howdy, though it’s not precisely clear what to anticipate when it comes to video or audio high quality. My guess is that Howdy will serve up HD-quality (1080p) video with commonplace stereo and/or encompass sound (that means no Dolby Atmos), however I’ve reached out to Roku for extra particulars. 

So, not too dangerous for $3 a month, however there’s a catch: Except for watching on an online browser, Howdy content material have to be streamed both on a Roku gadget (together with a Roku streaming stick or a Roku TV) or the Roku cell app for iOS or Android. Meaning should you’re hoping to binge-watch Howdy movies on an Apple TV, a Google TV streaming gadget, a Hearth TV stick, or one other non-Roku streaming participant, you’re out of luck. 

The excellent news is that Roku streaming gamers are method low cost. For instance, you may snag Roku’s newest HD streaming participant (which we simply reviewed) for simply $19 on Amazon, whereas the 4K-capable Roku Streaming Stick Plus goes for simply $30. 

Whereas it’s also possible to streaming Howdy content material on the Roku app for iOS and Android, it’s not clear should you can obtain titles for offline viewing. I doubt it, however I’ve despatched that query to Roku. 

Howdy could also be an ad-free streaming service, however should you watch it on a Roku TV or streaming participant, you’ll should take care of a person interface that’s riddled with advertisements. (Amazon and Google streaming gamers have ad-stuffed interfaces, too.)

Earlier this 12 months, Roku acquired dinged for experimenting with an auto-playing advert that appeared when customers first turned on their Roku TVs or streaming units. The advertisements had “Shut” buttons that allowed you to skip to the house display, however that didn’t cease Roku customers from howling with indignation.  

Roku stated the startup advert was only a “take a look at,” and the intrusive advert placement quickly disappeared.